Device for distribution of accounts



April 2, 1946. F. A.. NIEMANN O 2,397,685

DEVCE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNTS I Filed oct. 15, 1943 2 s'reeis-sheei 1 Patented Apr. 2, 1946'V DEVICEFOR DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNTS Frederick A. Niemann, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company, Chl cago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application october 13, 1943, serial No. 506,029

2 Claims.

, This invention relates to a record sheet holder for facilitating the distribution of accounts and for facilitating computation from a multiplicity of separate similar record sheets or strips. A plurality of the record sheets or strips provided with columns of numerical data are arranged and maintained in such a record sheet holder in parallel and overlapping relationship with only a desired column or columns of each sheet or strip exposed whereby to facilitate the lateral addition or extension of the corresponding items in the various columns.

The invention has more particular reference to a novel and improved record sheet holder construction which facilitates and expedites the removal of the record sheets or strips from the rec- .ord sheet holder without disturbing or changing their order whereby the Yremoved record strips may be quickly and readily gathered or collected for filing or other subsequent use.

An important object of the invention is the provision in such a record sheet holder of means for facilitating and expeditng removal of the record sheets or strips from the sheet retaining means of the record sheet holder.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a record sheet ejector which is adapted in operation to remove the overlapping record sheets or strips from such a record sheet holder with a minimum of mutilation of the record strips and without disturbing or changing their orderof arrangement.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be understood from the following description which considered with the accompanying drawings discloses `a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a record sheet `holder with a plurality of record sheets or strips arranged and held therein, embodying some of the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section of the improved record vsheet holder shown in Fig. 1 and is taken longitudinally of the sheet clamplng means and the novel means for facilitating the removal of the record sheets or strips;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section of the improved record sheet holder and is taken vtransversely of the sheet clamping means substantially along the lines 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the record sheet clamping means with portions broken away or otherwise removed to show the record sheet ejector in its relationship to the sheet retaining means preparatory to the removal of the record sheets or strips;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the sheet clamping means with portions broken away orother.- wise removed tolshow the, position of the sheet ejector relative to the sheet clamping means after the sheet ejector has ejected the record sheets or strips;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the. novel record sheet clamping andejecting means taken substantially along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the novel record sheet clamping and ejecting means takendsxibfstantially along the lines 1-1 of Fig. 5. Illustrative of the invention, the drawings show a record sheet holder like that disclosed in United States Letters Patent of Frederick A. Niemann, No. 2,033,147 issued `March 10,v 1936, and novel means forfacilitating the removal of the record sheets or strips therefrom. Since such a record sheet holder as disclosed hereinL for convenience in illustrating the invention is fully disclosed in the above mentioned patent, only so muchof such a holder will be described herein as may be necessary or desirable for a complete under- Standing of the present invention.

Briefly, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the illustrated record sheet holder comprises a suitable backing support II and sheet clamping means generally indicated by the reference character I2, adapted for attachment to vthe support II. The sheet clamping means is preferably of the type adapted to receive and hold a plurality of record sheets or strips I3 in parallel overlapping relationship on support II. If desired a T square or other suitable line guide I4 is arranged across the backing support to facilitate lateral reading across the assembled sheets or strips.

As illustrated the sheet clamping. means l2 comprises a pin or peg carrying plate or other suitable sheet retaining means I5. The clamping means I2 is attachable to and detachable from a side margin of the backing support II by suitable attaching means such as headed pins I6 spaced apart along `the side margin of and carried by the backing support II and apair of correspondingly spaced key-hole slots or notches I1 extending in from opposite side edges adjacent each end of the peg carrying plate I 5. That plate I5 is provided with a plurality of pins or pegs I8 anchored at regularly spaced intervals along the plate by rivets I9 or other suitable securing means and projecting outwardly from a face of the plate I5 for receiving the record sheets or strips I3. A hollow tubular conning vor sequent use of thestrips.

Y the recordsheets or sheet clamping means.

From the above mentioned. Patent No. 2,033,147, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the record sheets or strips I3 are duplicates of each other and are printed. alike on both sides as disclosed more fully in United States Letters Patent of Frederick A. -Niemann-and Kurt F. Ziehm, No. 1,884.814, issued October '25, .1932.

'Each side of each such strip is provided with Ymanginal columns 23 and 24 and a Icenter or intermediate column 25 and each such strip is p rovided near its top edge with perforations v2B` vspaced apart a distance Yequal to the space between succeeding pegs I8.

A plurality of the .Strips .ls in one use 'of thev record sheet .holder vis impaled on the pegsV I8 in such a manner that the strips are in parallel and overlapping relationship with corresponding marginal vvcolumns of the strips exposed and with the transverse 'lines of each exposed column forming continuations or Yextensions of` each other.

'When the strips are suitably arranged in position f y on'the peg carrying plate I5, theslot v22 of theV strip conflning or clampingmember 2 I is brought into registration'with the outer ends of the pegs I8 and the clamping member is pressed toward the plate] 5. Due to the resiliency of the yclamp I ingV member, it is thus movable into frictional locking engagement with the pegs and will hold the record sheets or strips on the pegs I8 against inadvertent displacement during calculation, during reversing of the `clamping means with its contained sheets orstrips,V and during otheruses of the assembled sheets and sheet clamping means.

In removing the multiplicity of strips I3 from such a record sheet holder, the strip conning or clamping member 2| is rst disengaged from the Pegs I8 by holding the plate I5 and pulling .the strip clamping member in a direction away from .the plate I5. After such removal of the strip' clamping member, it is customary to strip the recordrstrips from the pegs I 8 by grasping one v or more of them and; while holding the plate I5,

pulling upwardly until the strip or strips vclear the ends of the mpaling pegs I8. In so with'- drawing the strips I3 from the pegs I8, many of the strips are frequently torn or otherwise mutilated,` and they vare disarranged aste Vorder, thus introducing diiiiculties in .filing orjother sub- Itis an object of this invention las already pointed out hereinabove -to facilitate the;removal of strips from the record .sheet holder. V'To that end, according to the present `inventiomthe record rstrips I3 are'sub'stantially simultaneously removed or separated from theV vpegs l'by moving the pegsY I8 out of the perfora- 28 therein spaced aparta distance equal to the spacing of the pegs. I8 and of such size as to receive the respective pegs-therein. The ejector Y y' strip 21 is preferably of a length slightly greater than the intended width of the assembled record Y strips I3 and is somewhat wider thanathe peg carrying plate I5. In use the ejector strip 21 is arranged adjacent the `peg carrying lplate I 5 with f' thepegs I8 extending through the apertures 28 before the record strips I3 and the clamping member 2 I are assembled-on the pegs I8. 1

`As shown best in Figs. 1 and 3 when, so assembled the ends ofthe ejector strip 21 are accessible at opposite .margins of the assembled record strips .vt-3 and ythe .longitudinal margins ofthe strip 21 extend beyond the corresponding margins of the peg carrying plate I5. By holding either thepeg carrying plate |5or theY ejector strip 21 and applylnga suicient force to the other of those members ina direction away fromthe held member, the assembled record strips I3 are separated or removed from the pegs ;I:8. o Thus the ejector strip 21 constitutes convenient means for simultaneously ejecting all of the record strips from vthe sheet 'retaining means.

Preferably'the improved record sheet holder has associ-atedtherewith novel 'means for operating the ejector strip V21 to remove the record strips from the record sheet holder. Such means is shown in Figs. 4 to 7 and as therein illustrated comprises a supporting holder 29 forthe ejector strip-21 and a member 39 engageable with the outer ends of the pegs I8 for forcing 'the' pegs out of the record strip perforations 26 while the ejector strip is supported on the Vholder 2B. r'Ihe supporting holder .29 is stamped or otherwise formed as an elongated .channel or U-shaped member of a length substantially equal to the length of the ejector strip A21, and with a base or bottom wall 3| and upstanding side walls 32 integral therewith. The side Walls 32 .are spaced apart ajdistance slightly'greater than the width of the peg carrying plate' I5 and less than the width of the ejector .strip v21 and fare of a height substantially equal to o r greater thanthe length Y ofthe .pegs I8.

The ejector strip supporting holder 29 is thus adapted to receive. the peg carrying plate I5 be-r tween the spaced side walls `32 and to engage Vthe lower face of the ejector strip 21 outwardly of the opposite longitudinal margins. of the peg car. rying plateV and to hold the ejector strip in that 1 position while the plate I5 is moved kdownwardly tions 26 a1ong paths that are substantially `ver the strips. For so ejectgagement with the lower face of the assembled vrecordstrips Iabout the pegs I8. Such means .in its present preferred form com-Y prises aresilient ejector strip or plate 21 ofzmetal Y having a plurality of equally spaced apertures Vhave been impaled thereon. For so between the Vside walls Y32 ciently to remove the pegs tions of any and all record strips I3 of the holder 29 suli which may moving the `or otherwise 4as a channel plate I5, the' member '3U sstamped formed of any suitable Yshape such Yto provide a lpeg engaging portion'33 of such length andwidth ,as to be engageable with the outer ends of all o f the pegs .I8 at the same time, anda portion or portions 34 to facilitate handling and manipulating the :member .30 `in applying force 'to the pegs .for removing them from the perforations in the record strips.

In the use of the novel ejector operating means,

after the clamping member 2lV isremoved yfrom the pegs I8, the sheet retaining means or peg carrying plate I5 with the ejector rstrip 2'I`im- Paled on `the vpegs 18, betweenV the peg carrying.

plate and the impaled'record strips is arranged on the channel shaped member 29as shown in Figs.

4.- and 6. In'that position the ejector strip 2l I 8 out of .the perforarests, at opposite sides of the peg carrying plate I5, on the upper edges of the side walls 32. Thus the side walls 32 support the assembled record strips, ejector strip, and peg carrying plate with the peg carrying plate I inwardly of the spaced channel walls 32 below the ejector strip 21 and with the record strips I3 on the ejector strip.

With the sheet retaining means thus arranged on the channel shaped member 29, the peg engaging portion 33 of the member 30 is brought into engagement with the upper free ends of the pegs I8 and pressed downwardly with sufficient force to move the peg carrying plate I5 downwardly into the channel shaped member 29 whereby to remove or withdraw the pegs I8 downwardly through the perforations 23 of the record strips I3 and the apertures 28 in the ejector strip 21. Figs. 5 and 7 show the retaining means after it has thus been released.

In so moving the retaining means, the pegsl I8 move in a substantially vertical direction relative to the plane of the perforations 26 of the record strip I3. Hence mutilation of the record sheets is minimized and a minimum of friction between the perforated record strips I3 and the several pegs I8 is encountered during the ejecting operation. Particular attention is directed to the fact that when the sheet retaining means is so operated the arrangement of the record strips I3 is not disturbed and they remain as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 in their original order between the member 30 and the ejector strip 21 and may be readily gathered or collected for ling or other use simply by removing the member 30 from the upper ends of the record strips.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacricing all of its material advantages, the form of the invention hereinabove described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Iclaim:

1. In a record sheet holder including sheet impaling means having a multiplicity of record sheets impaled thereon, a sheet ejector impaled on said impaling means under said record sheets, means engaging said sheet ejector at the side thereof opposite said record sheets for supporting the assembled sheet impaling means, sheet ejector, and record sheets at a height greater than the length of said sheet impaling means, and means engageable with said sheet impaling means while it is so supported and adapted to move it downwardly relative to said sheet ejector from impaling relationship with said record sheets for simultaneously ejecting all of the record sheets from said impaling means.

2. In a record sheet holder including a peg carrying plate having a plurality of spaced upstanding pegs for impaling thereon a multiplicity of paper sheets, a sheet ejector impaled on said' pegs between said plate and paper sheets and having marginal portions extending outwardly beyond opposite edges of said plate, means engageable with the sheet ejector marginal portions outwardly of the opposite edges of said plate for supporting the assembled plate, sheet ejector and record sheets in sheet ejecting position, and means engageable with said pegs for moving them and said plate relative to said sheet ejector while said sheet ejector is held by the last said means to remove all of the paper sheets from said pegs.

FREDERICK A. NIEMANN. 

